Songs By Performers Whose Name Begins With "P"" Quiz

Answer: Twilight Time

Originally, The Platters were Tony Williams, Herb Reed, David Lynch, Zola Taylor, and Paul Robi. Sonny Turner replaced Tony Williams in 1959, and Sandra Dawn and Nate Nelson (of The Flamingos) took over from Taylor and Robi in 1965. From 1955-1967, The Platters had 23 top 40 songs on the Top/Hot 100, including seven top ten tunes. Of those, three made number one on the Top 100 ("The Great Pretender" in 1955, "My Prayer" in 1956, and "Twilight Time" in 1958), and one topped the Hot 100 ("Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in 1958). Paul & Paula did "Hey Paula" in 1963.

The Partridge Family performed "I Think I Love You" in 1970. Ray Parker, Jr. sang "Ghostbusters" in 1984.

Answer: Me And Mrs. Jones

In 1972, Billy Paul (born Paul Williams) had his only top ten and number one song on Billboard's Hot 100: "Me And Mrs. Jones". It would have been a one-hit wonder except for his "Thanks For Saving My Life" that reached number 37 in 1974. "Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)" was by Pink Floyd in 1980. "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" was done by PM Dawn in 1991. "Temperature" was performed by Sean Paul in 2006.

Answer: Every Breath You Take

Before he was a solo artist, Sting (Gordon Sumner) was member of the English trio The Police, along with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. Between 1979 and 1984, the group had nine top 40 tunes on the Hot 100, six in the top ten. Their only chart topper was "Every Breath You Take" in 1983. Also at number one were: "A World Without Love" (Peter And Gordon, 1964), "Nothing From Nothing" (Billy Preston, 1974), and "Hey There Delilah" (Plain White T's, 2007).

Answer: Suspicious Minds

Elvis Presley placed an incredible 114 (by my count) tunes on Billboard's Top/Hot 100 between 1956 and 1981 (some posthumously), including 37 in the top ten, 17 of which were number one songs. He also starred in over thirty films. "Suspicious Minds," that topped the list in 1969, was his final number one. "My Prayer" by The Platters got to number one in 1956 on the Top 100 list. On the Hot 100, Prince did "When Doves Fly" in 1984, and "Bad Day" was a one-hit wonder number one for Daniel Powter in 2006.

Answer: Stagger Lee

Lloyd Price (real name) had ten tunes in the top 40 of the Hot 100 between 1957 and 1963. Three of those made the top ten, all in 1959: "Stagger Lee" at number one, "Personality" at number two, and "I'm Gonna Get Married" at number three. In Price's original lyrics, Stagger Lee shoots and kills Billy over a gambling dispute. Apparently because of complaints about the violence from radio listeners, a second non-violent version was recorded with Stagger Lee and Billy arguing over a woman (who returns to Stagger Lee at the end).

The second version was the one used when Price appeared on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand". "West End Girls" was by Pet Shop Boys in 1986, Prince did "Bat Dance" in 1989, and Puff Daddy (featuring Mase) performed "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" in 1997.

Answer: The Night Chicago Died

A quartet from England, Paper Lace was made up of Phil Wright, Cliff Fish, Chris Morris, and Michael Vaughan. "The Night Chicago Died" was a one-hit wonder that got to number one on the Hot 100 in 1974. "The Great Pretender" by The Platters reached number one on Billboard's Top 100 in 1955.

Heading the Hot 100 were "Monster Mash" (by Bobby "Boris" Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers in 1962) and "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (by John Parr in 1985).

Answer: So What

From 2000-June,2009, Pink (born Alecia Moore) placed 14 numbers in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100. Nine of those made the top ten, including two chart-toppers at number one: "So What" in 2008 and "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Mya) in 2001. Also with number one hits were Elvis Presley ("Surrender" in 1961), Billy Preston ("Will It Go Round In Circles" in 1973), and Poison ("Every Rose Has Its Thorns" in 1985).

Answer: 9 To 5

The versatile Dolly Parton (real name) had a modest eight songs on the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 from 1977-2006. Three reached the top ten, two of which made number one: "9 To 5" in 1980 and "Islands In the Stream" with Kenny Rogers in 1983. [In contrast, Billboard's Hot Country Songs lists 106 of her solos and duets.

There are 54 in the top ten, with 25 of those at number one.] She also has acted in several films including "9 To 5" and "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas". And in 1961 she established Rebel Railroad in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the Great Smokey Mountains not far from Knoxville. Over time it has evolved into Dollywood, a family-friendly combination of amusement theme park, water park, resort, craft fair, and concert site. Johnny Preston topped the Hot 100 in 1959 with "Running Bear"; Puff Daddy and Faith Evans made it in 1997 with "I'll Be Missing You"; and Sean Paul got there in 2003 with "Get Busy".

Answer: Patricia

Perez Prado's "Patricia" topped Billboard's Top 100 in 1958. It was almost a one-hit wonder. In 1955, his "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" ranked number one on these Billboard charts: Best Seller, Juke Box, and Jockey. The other options all made number one on the Hot 100: "Baby Come Back" by Player in 1977; "Addicted To Love" by Robert Palmer in 1986; and "Close To You" by Maxi Priest in 1990.

Answer: Leaving On A Jet Plane

The folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary (Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers) placed 12 numbers on Billboard's Hot 100 between 1962 and 1969, six of which reached the top ten including "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" and "Blowin' In The Wind" both of which made number two in 1963.

Their only chart-topper was "Leaving On A Jet Plane" in 1969. Peaches & Herb sang "Reunited" (1979), Tommy Page performed "I'll Be Your Everything" (1990), and Kathy Perry did "I Kissed A Girl" (2008).